I’ve been keto since March 2018. Coming up on 200 days this Saturday Sept 22nd. I’ve lost several inches in my waist and hips. My starting weight was 431 lbs. Pretty sure that was my highest weight. My current weight is 367 lbs. I just had a radical hysterectomy 9/11 due to endometrial cancer. I stayed keto through that process and continued to lose this week while recovering.
I have PCOS with insulin resistance, hypothyroid, estrogen dominant. Now that I’ve had hysterectomy (surgical menopause) … I know my body will use up its hormone stores. Then what? How does that affect my IR, thyroid, etc.? I know PCOS/IR is a metabolic disorder, and I’ve read it’s easier to manage now, but how exactly?
Hi Tammy.
Had my surgery for endometrial cancer on 8/31/18. Same radical hysterectomy.
The outcome you are asking about has a LOT to do with your age. Do you mind sharing that?
I am 67, so the hormonal changes won’t be drastic for me. However, estrogen is stored in fat cells. I started at 460 lbs; now sitting around 271. Lots of changes; am ketogenic almost all the time. Lots of other medical stuff getting better. For now, off the Provera, which had been to counter the estrogen until I could have the surgery.
But… if you have a knowledgeable doctor (good luck with that, sorry, but it’s been hard to find one) they will check your hormone levels and see where you stand, and perhaps still advise progesterone replacement (age dependent, of course) to counter the estrogen stored in fat cells, to keep things in balance. I hope they factor in how PCOS affects all that. And even that should improve. I remember reading a lady’s story who lost around 200 lbs, in spite of PCOS.
Anyway, I was just reading on this a few days ago (about hormone changes after the surgery), and I’ll see if I can remember where it was!
I’ve been low carb several years, and when diagnosed with endometrial cancer 2 yrs ago, went keto. I can’t find a doctor to check insulin levels, but going by how I feel (not overly hungry, can easily fast a day, satisfied with keto food and hardly any cravings except once in a blue moon, blood glucose levels good, A1C down from almost 7 to low 5’s), I feel like I’ve made lots of progress, healthwise, along with weight loss.
I’m hypothyroid, also. Am watching to see if that improves gradually also. So… hang in there. I’ll see if I can find that info.
Retta, thank you so much for the reply! I appreciate any reading you can point me to! I’m 48. I have been strict keto since March. Saturday will be 200 days for me. My starting weight was 431 lbs and my current weight is 367 lbs. I’ve lost 4 net pounds since the surgery 1 week ago, so I am encouraged. I figure I have a lot of stored hormones in my fat cells to deplete yet. I am also hypothyroid. You are right about finding the unicorn doc who will check all the things. That’s why I’m trying to educate myself so I know what to look for and ask for!
I’m way past menopause, and when I was losing 60 pounds I had several months of light monthly bleeding, so the fat does indeed release estrogen, apparently enough to build up some endometrium even in someone 15 years past menopause. Haven’t had any spotting for over a year now since I stopped losing weight.
I also had PCOS since my late teens and my periods stopped at 50, so you were pretty close to natural menopause I would think.
